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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to encourage people to holiday in the UK this year?

380 replies

BaliPebbles · 07/05/2020 09:31

Growing up I did a few holidays in the Wales but as I got older we did the traditional Brit holiday of going to Spain (or Greece) for 2 weeks, lying on a deckchair everyday except one when we went out somewhere for a bit of culture (but became anxious of missing out on one tanning day), eating loads of creme caramel and then flying home and starting to peel before you left the arrivals lounge. As money improved, those hotels just got better and the destinations a bit more far away e.g. lying on a beach in Cancun.

I then lived overseas for nearly 20 years and went on some amazing holidays, still thinking that holidaying in the UK is just for the unenlightened.

Then we moved back to the UK with primary age children and we ventured to do a UK holiday. We were actually astonished at how great a time we had and how much happier the DC were and how much less stress it was. Mine don't actually want to be dragged through an airport and spend a whole day travelling, they don't want to go too far and away for too long. They like being in the car and stopping off. They like British things. Our UK holidays now consist of great food, interesting and off the beaten track excursions, somewhere nice to stay, history, culture and some activities.

Anyway, the reason why I am bleating on about this is because I just received a survey about using airlines once the lockdown is over. I filled it in and I realised that I don't actually want to go on a plane now for a long time. I don't want to add to climate change, I don't want to end up somewhere where coronavirus ramps up during my holiday, I do not want to be in a 5 hour queue either end of my plane journey and I don't want to listen to people coughing round me on a plane.

So, AIBU to remind people that we need to boost our own economy quite urgently and that actually, if you sit down and spend a couple of hours on the internet, you can make yourself a brilliant itinerary for a holiday in the UK because actually holidaying in Britain is great!

OP posts:
CoralFish · 07/05/2020 11:57

Yeah I would love to holiday in the UK this year. I have one booked for October. Don't think it's going to happen. If it was self catering, fine, but I've got a city break booked so I don't know what we would be able to do or even how we would eat...

SerenDippitty · 07/05/2020 11:59

We also enjoy a UK holiday but they are often expensive if we want to eat out twice a day like we do on a beach holiday

For me one of the attractions of a UK cottage holiday is that you don’t have to eat out if you don’t have to. You have the option of a simple meal in if you wish. I find I can get sick of pub/restaurant food which is why we don’t do B and Bs.

WickedGoodDoge · 07/05/2020 12:00

I just want to say I have never “but became anxious of missing out on one tanning day”. Hmm

You can have an absolutely brilliant holiday in the U.K. However, anyone who has spent 20+ years having some “amazing” overseas holidays is not really the best person to pontificate on now staying in the UK. It’s all a bit “I’ve now seen the light so the rest of you need to as well”. No thanks.

SerenDippitty · 07/05/2020 12:00

want to not have to.

Wiaa · 07/05/2020 12:00

So basically you've been everywhere you want to but now feel that you can preach to everyone else how to spend their leisure time because you're suddenly concerned about us, the planet and the quality of our holiday experience.
Yes OK Hmm

OneandTwenty · 07/05/2020 12:02

Haven't the residents of Wales/Cornwall/Devon/the lake district made it pretty clear they do not welcome tourists?

They are free to close all hotels, rentals, campsites etc.. and stop all tourist businesses. Then tourists won't come.

If they are hypocrites with a full trade of tourist activities and accommodation, they just moan for the sake of it and welcome the cash!

If you have a field and charge campers to use it, you can't moan about camping...

OneandTwenty · 07/05/2020 12:03

Let's hope we actually increase the summer holidays to July and August, people will have a slightly better weather, and the local tourist industry would benefit. Crowding everyone together in a bit more than 1 month is grim.

Quarantimespringclean · 07/05/2020 12:04

I find the tone of the OP patronising. To assume that because she did a two week sand and sun bed package holiday every year that that style of holiday is traditional, British or the norm makes no sense.

Growing up my holidays were 6 weeks running wild on my GPs farm hundreds of miles from my urban family home. When I was a young mum our holidays were caravans and campsites the length and breadth of Britain. I have also done a few European package holidays (and very nice they were too) and in the last 10 years travelled very extensively around the world.

I am fully aware that the British Isles contain some wonderful holiday destinations, but so does the rest of the planet. I am fully aware that the U.K. hospitality industry will need a boost and so will every other country.

I doubt I will be having a holiday at all this year. The city break to Prague has already been cancelled as has the planned family visit to the States and our Easter in Ireland. I doubt very much the yoga retreat in India in September will happen. But when it is safe to travel again, I will go on the holidays I can afford and enjoy, both here and abroad. I don’t need telling there is more to experience than 2 weeks in the Med.

isittheholidaysyet · 07/05/2020 12:04

Nearly always do UK hols. Can't afford abroad, generally. In the last 15 years (since kids,) we've had 3 abroad holidays.
And they all cost a fortune.

However I doubt we'll manage anything thus year. Campsites will be booked up (we need a large pitch.) All self-catering will be taken by people who normally go abroad.

I'm thinking we might just spend the summer staying with family. And having family to stay. But treat it as a holiday. That should give us a week in the south, a week in the Midlands and a week in Merseyside, possibly a Bristol trip as well. Give us a chance to check on everyone as we haven't seen them for months.

Presuming we are allowed of course.

(On another point, how do you go abroad with 6 people, including all travel, food, accommodation and activities for less that £1000? Which is the max we spend in UK. Where would I look, in normal times, for those deals?)

1Morewineplease · 07/05/2020 12:05

We love holidaying in the UK and have done for many many years.
Obviously it’ll be a while before this will happen again but when it does, I think that we might avoid the West Country altogether, given some of the vitriol that has come from there.

LilacTree1 · 07/05/2020 12:07

mad thread

I doubt we'll able to holiday in the UK this year, never mind anywhere else.

sunglasses123 · 07/05/2020 12:08

I would 100% rather go somewhere with definite sun. The UK is very expensive and if it rains its miserable.

Its a terrible experience when it rains. If you want to stay in the UK and pay for this experience then fine but I would rather stay at home and save more for a proper holiday!

LilacTree1 · 07/05/2020 12:08

And I really wanted to go to Boscastle but get the distinct impression outsiders are not welcome.

minettechatouette · 07/05/2020 12:08

What a weird sanctimonious post. I doubt anyone is going on holiday this summer whether abroad or in the UK. And beyond that, I’m sure people can make up their own minds about where to go. A holiday abroad doesn’t have to involve being plopped on a beach for two weeks by the way Confused nor does it even have to involve flying (we don’t fly short haul and have done several trips to France, Italy, Portugal and Germany by train and boat).

TaleOfTheContinents · 07/05/2020 12:08

Holidaying abroad also supports the local economy in a way because there are hundreds of thousands of people employed in the travel and tourism industry, including travel agencies, hotel booking agencies and airlines. I will continue to holiday abroad once it's safe to do so. I hope that will be this year - I'm dying to go somewhere exotic!

rosiepony · 07/05/2020 12:13

The Brits are shot at hospitality and the beds are so uncomfortable.

IcedPurple · 07/05/2020 12:16

I don't want to add to climate change

Give us a break, Greta. If you cared about climate change you'd have stopped flying years ago, not waited for this. Yet you said you've travelled abroad many times. The sanctimony is tiresome. If you prefer holidaying in Britain, great. But don't pretend you're morally superior on that account.

Dahlietta · 07/05/2020 12:16

Yes, @echt, exactly like that! 😁

ChocolateQuiltedShitPig · 07/05/2020 12:16

We have a static in tenby. I'm just hoping we will get to visit soon. We actually don't live far from it but would be nice for the family to get down there.

I do find your post very patronising though, just to be clear

Pelleas · 07/05/2020 12:18

We'll be lucky to holiday anywhere this year!

Hingeandbracket · 07/05/2020 12:18

The Brits are shot at hospitality and the beds are so uncomfortable
What a load of racist bollocks

Sirzy · 07/05/2020 12:18

I would just love to be able to go away anywhere this year. Can’t see it happening but clinging onto some hope for now!

Leflic · 07/05/2020 12:25

I have always been a traveller but I do agree about the children enjoying a U.K. break. There’s the novelty of different but easier.
I also think it does them good to know their country. See how the landscape changes in different places. I think long distance travel can be a bit surreal. It’s all normality on the plane and then you land somewhere completely alien.I think that can be challenging for some children and dare I say it, a bit pointless. I think being a bit older helps you appreciate what you are doing and seeing a bit more.

I go away for my January birthday every year. Buggered if I’m going anywhere in the U.K. for that though.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 07/05/2020 12:28

The last time we took our main holiday in the UK was 5 years ago when DH had just set up his own business and we thought we'd save some money by camping in the west country …… it pissed down the entire week and we spent a fortune eating in pubs/restaurants to get out of the rain, and going to cinemas/theatre etc. We would have spent far less abroad.

cheeseismydownfall · 07/05/2020 12:29

The UK has a huge amount to offer - obviously - surely no-one needs this pointing out?
But the rest of the world has even more to offer - this is simply a fact. The challenges of hours (and in some case days) we have spent travelling overseas with young children has always been 100% worth it for the experiences we have had.
In an ideal world we would enjoy holidaying both in the UK and overseas.
In the actual world, our choice of holidays will be determined by what is legally and financially viable, and what we feel comfortable with regarding the climate impact. This is likely to mean more UK (or train/car travel to Europe) holidays and (much) less long haul travel.
I'm not sure anyone needs this explaining to them?